Plastic tunnels Plastic is a word that originally meant “pliable and easily shaped. plastic, polymeric material that has the capability of being molded or shaped, usually by the application of heat and pressure. 1 trillion per year—and that’s likely an underestimate, according to a new report from Duke University scholars. The word polymer means “of many parts,” and polymers are made of long chains of molecules. . Plastic products are prominent in the construction, transportation, and packaging industries. Plastics generated 1. Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. 4 per cent of the world’s total emissions, a number that is set to grow considerably as the production of In this article, we'll examine the chemistry of plastic, how it's made, how it's used, and how it's disposed of and recycled. ” It only recently became a name for a category of materials called polymers. We'll also look at some new biologically based plastics and their role in the future of plastic. Jun 19, 2025 · Plastic coverage from Scientific American, featuring news and articles about advances in the field. Plastics are incredibly versatile materials that can be used to make a variety of products. There are seven distinct types of plastic, each with its own characteristics and uses. They are lightweight yet durable, strong yet malleable, and relatively inexpensive to produce. The meaning of PLASTIC is a plastic substance; specifically : any of numerous organic synthetic or processed materials that are mostly thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular weight and that can be made into objects, films, or filaments. Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. Their defining characteristic, plasticity, allows them to be molded, extruded, or pressed into a diverse range of solid forms. Polymers abound in nature. Oct 31, 2025 · Plastic products are generally versatile, durable and lightweight. Nov 6, 2025 · Plastic is everywhere in daily life in the United States, from synthetic fabrics to toys to disposable utensils, straws and bags. Plastic innovations contributed to many life-saving products that revolutionized the health care industry. While plastic is cheap for the average consumer, its impacts cost Americans $436 billion to $1. 8 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019 – that’s 3. zthn 5ynr3s dc s9m am9w wb5 nyo 6dsi 2gos ltgq